OUR SCHOOL

In our school grounds we have a small outdoor swimming pool, a large football field, an environmental area where we have a bird hide, three ponds, lots and lots of trees such as Sloe, Wych Elm, Holly etc
Last year a local organisation came, to the school to help us to clear the area to make it more attractive, we also have an adventure playground where we play.
Our swimming pool has recently been refurbished but we can only use it during the summer months.
We also have a tarmac area which we use as a netball court.

These two pictures are of our adventure playground.
In the playground we have monkey bars, a slide, fireman's pole etc.

The picture below is of our " new pond " in the Environmental area.

Bridestowe Community Primary School is in the centre of the village and has been providing education to the local community since the 1860s.  We currently have a roll of 58 children aged between 4 and 11.

Set in spacious grounds, the school benefits from two tarmacked playgrounds, a level playing field, an adventure playground which was constructed with the help of parents in 1995, an outside swimming pool and a comprehensive environmental area with ponds, a path that meanders among indigenous trees and plants.

The teaching areas are accommodated in the original Victorian building, which is divided into two large teaching areas, one for 4-7 year olds and the other for 7-11 year olds, the former of which is supported by a wet play area.  We have a dedicated library area, the refurbishment of which was funded by the Lord of Bridestowe Sanctuary, interior cloakrooms and toilets and a kitchen where school meals are prepared on site daily.

The old schoolmaster’s house accommodates our reception, office, small group room and a Home Economics Area.  A temporary classroom to the rear of the school, is used by the local playgroup.

The school is well resourced and is constantly updating buildings and equipment to reflect the demands of modern education.

At Bridestowe the staff and governors strive to provide a secure, caring community in which every child will have the opportunity to achieve their full potential socially and academically regardless of ability, race, gender, culture, religion or social background.

At Bridestowe we aim to:-

¨      make learning fun

¨      encourage excellence

¨      value individual contribution and achievement

¨      develop confident independent learners

¨      place high emphasis on literacy and numeracy

¨      provide a broad, balanced and enriched curriculum

¨      use assessment of children’s progress to plan appropriate activities to stimulate further learning

¨      encourage aesthetic, spiritual, moral and social development

¨      encourage an effective range of communication skills

¨      develop self discipline and a positive attitude to good behaviour

¨      promote a safe healthy lifestyle

¨      teach children to value and respect self and others

¨      be central to the local community

¨      work in partnership with parents

The school has two annual intakes September and January.  Children who will be 5 between September 1^st and February 28^th will attend school full time from September.  Children who will be 5 between 1^st March and 31^st August will attend school full time from January.

We encourage new children to attend two afternoon sessions a week during the term before he/she starts full time.  These visits help your child to settle more easily when they start full-time.  They are able to get used to the new routines of school, meet and get to know the other children and develop their independence in the classroom and playground.

Over-subscription Criteria for 2006/2007 Academic Year

The school Admission Code of Practice (02/2003) recommends that priority be given to ‘Looked After’ children when setting over-subscription criteria.  In light of this the following over-subscription criteria are proposed for determining the allocation of places where there are more applications than places available.

1.          Children who are in Public Care.

2.          Children living within the schools designated area with a sibling who will be attending the school at the time of admission.                                       

3.          Other children living in the school’s designated area.                             

4.          Children living outside the school’s designated area, but with a sibling who will be attending the school at the time of admission.                             

5.          Other children living outside the school’s designated area.  

(A child who has a statement of Special Educational Needs where the School is named on the statement, will have precedence for a school place).                                      

N.B. If it is necessary to differentiate between children in either category, priority will be determined on the basis of distance between home and school as a direct line from the entrance of the property to the nearest available official entrance of the school. (ie the shorter the distance, the higher the priority) except that in the case of children below school age in priority categories 2 & 3 only priority will be determined by date of birth (ie the earlier the date, the higher the priority)

Priority may be given to the admission of pupils for whom a particular medical or social justification is demonstrated.